I take another sip of my cold drink. I'm assuming that whoever just called me saw me talking to Reid. That also means whoever is calling me is probably here at the party.

Who would that be, and how does he have my number? I'm thinking it's either Nathan or Kol and they probably got my number from my friends, but I quickly cross them off my list. I can easily recognize their voices over the phone.

I brush the call off my mind as I walk out of the kitchen. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm just hooking up with Asher and I have no plans whatsoever of doing more than just that. About Reid, he's not the type of a guy I'd even like to be friends with. I know his type too well. That means my mysterious caller slash self proclaimed guardian angel has nothing to be worried about.

I spot Hazel the moment I walk into the party again and I walk over to her. She turns to look at me when I place a hand on her shoulder.

"This party sucks. I want to go home." I tell her over the loud music.

"Already? It's barely eleven and you are our designated driver."

"I know. I can leave then come back to pick you guys once you're done."

"You're not leaving, Riya. Where is Asher?"

''Don't know, don't care."

"I mean, he could keep you company if you're bored."

"That's exactly how you start having feelings for someone so there's no way I'm hanging out with Asher."

"You are not even capable of having feelings for a guy. Just call him."

"Are you trying to say that I'm heartless?" I ask with a gasp, feigning offense, and Hazel bursts out laughing.

"Call him."

"No."

"Riya, now!"

I sigh before I get my phone from my bag. I dial his number and I cautiously let my eyes take in everyone in the room as I wait for him to answer.

I shake my head as I briefly close my eyes. I need to get that mysterious caller from my mind.

"Miss me already?" Asher's voice fills my ear.

"You wish."

"You called me."

"Where are you?"

"What, can't keep calm without me?"

"Where the hell are you, Asher?"

"I already left. Why are you asking?"

"I just wanted someone to hang out with, but never mind."

"Hang out? I thought you weren't the clingy type?"

I roll my eyes.
"I knew this was a bad idea. Goodbye."

He hangs up, and I turn to Hazel with a sigh.
"He thinks I'm being clingy. You talked me into calling him."

She grins cheekily.
"At least I talked you into something."

"Now I'm really going home. Call me once you're ready to leave."

She shrugs, since she knows nothing can change my mind right now, and I briskly walk to the entrance.

At the door, I bump into someone in the most cliché way possible and I reel backwards. My back bumps right into someone else and he easily wraps an arm around me to support me. I know it's a guy because he cusses when my back hits his torso.

"Look where you're going, dumbass!" The first guy I bumped into yells in my face.

"You look where you're going, you little shit." Whoever is still clutching my waist retaliates, and I immediately push his arms away from me.

"Reid?" I gasp, turning around.

He is not looking at me. He is busy glaring at the other boy who looks a bit lost as he slithers into the shadows.

He finally turns to me, and I clear my throat when our eyes meet.

I can't believe I'm so nervous around him.

"That was unnecessary. I'm the one who bumped into him."

Reid nods.
"I know."

"Then why did you do that? That was mean of you."

"You're welcome."

I roll my eyes for the tenth time tonight.
"The whole Knight in shining armour thing was unnecessary but okay."

"Where are you going?" He inquires, grabbing my hand when I make to walk away.

"Home. Don't touch me."

"It still early."

"I know. Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me."

His eyes fleet to my hand and he slowly unlocks his fingers from around it.
"Are you really okay?"

"I'm great."

His brow creases with a frown.
"Do you want a drink?"

"I'm good, Reid. Okay?"

"No, you're not. You look so lost. Come back inside."

Reid takes the cup which I'm somehow still holding, and I watch him as he drinks from it. He makes a face when he swallows the mango juice then he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Why are you drinking this?"

"I don't think I understand your question."

"Mango juice? At a party?"

"You were taking water last night in a club so I don't know what your point is."

"Can't you just answer a simple question?"

"I'm not drinking because I'm driving. Happy?"

"I'll drive you home. Let's get you a real drink."

"I'm very capable of driving myself home, thank you very much."

"Don't be stubborn about this."

The way his dark eyes pierce into mine makes me want to stay and have that drink. I know it's not a good idea but my willpower is giving way. His familiarity is just.. I don't know how to explain it.

"I have to get Mia and Hazel home afterwards."

"Nathan and Kol will drive them."

"And if they don't?"

"Then I'll do it myself."

I let out a sigh.
"Haven't you been drinking?"

"I have the whole teetotaler thing going on, remember? Don't look so paranoid. I never go back on my word. If I promise to get you home, I'll get you home."

I shrug.
"Fine. Whatever."

What could possibly go wrong?

He reaches for my hand but I step away from him. He frowns at me before he turns on his heel. I walk closely beside him, and the party makers part to make way for us.

The drinks are placed on the kitchen counter but he reaches into the cabinet. I start to raise an eyebrow before he takes out a bottle of Scotch; the good type. He smiles at me as he uncorks it and pours some into a party cup.

"You're hiding the good stuff?" I ask with a tiny frown when he pushes the cup to me.

"It belongs to Kol's dad. He'll just assume that Kol drank it." He explains with an evil grin.

"You'll get him in trouble."

"That's the plan. Kol accidentally broke half of my mom's silverware while drunk, and I had to take the blame. This is nothing in return."

"You still live with your mom?"

"Nope. It was a thanksgiving event at my parent's house and we invited our friends. Either way, I don't think living with your Mom is a bad thing."

"I take it that you have a cool mom?"

"I don't know what's your definition for cool, but my Mom is heaven sent. She's a bit overbearing but it's nothing I can't handle."

The way he speaks about her makes my heart ache a little bit. He makes her sound like a good person. Good people don't really exist, do they?

"You love her?" I ask rhetorically as I scoop ice cubes into my drink.

"Of course. What did your mother do to earn your dislike?"

I shake my head, forcing a tight smile.
"If I start talking, we'll be here all night. She's done a lot of things I'd rather she didn't do, and now she has burdened me with the task of living with Savannah. That kinda sucks."

He cocks an eyebrow.
"Savannah?"

"My cousin."

"Lemme guess, you don't like her."

"I don't like anyone, okay?"

Reid just shakes his head as he watches me gulp down the Scotch.
"You've had it rough in life, haven't you, Riya?"

"Who hasn't?"

"Everyone is having it rough but you are a different case all together. You are so bitter and you don't like people touching you, you have obvious trust issues and have to put on a strong, bitchy facade as a defense mechanism so people won't hurt you. Am I right?"

"I should probably leave."

"You should probably talk it out."

I slam the cup on the counter.
"You're crossing the limits now. I don't wanna talk about anything with you."

"I don't want you to talk to me. You have friends and you can get a shrink if you want to." He makes to cup my face. "Riya-"

"Don't touch me!"

"Why are you so furious?"

"Why am I so furious?" I ask, tears shining in my eyes. I probably shouldn't have drunk that Scotch. "I'm furious because I hate everything and everyone. I hate myself, I hate my mother, I hate Savannah- God, she didn't even wrong me!"

''Calm down, okay?" Reid mutters, startled. "Just talk to me."

"I don't wanna talk to you! I don't want to talk to anyone!"

"You're shouting, Riya." His calmness drives me crazy.

"And if I am? I'll shout however I want. You know why? Because I'm tired. I'm tired of putting up this bad girl facade. I'm sick of hating people. I want to care, Reid, but I cant. I can't bring myself to trust anyone. I want to be a normal girl with a normal life but I can't. I'm stuck being a heartless slut who only cares about herself."

I don't realize that tears are rolling down my cheeks until I feel Reid flicking them away.

I slap his hand away.
"Don't touch me!"

"Why?"

"Why? Because i hate men touching me. A man ruined me. He destroyed me and right now, I don't want anyone acting like they care. You know why? Because they don't. They just want me to trust them then they'll take advantage of that and tear me apart."

Reid steps closer and despite my protests, he doesn't budge. I try to push him away but he's like a solid wall.

"Step away, dammit!"

"No. I'm not leaving you like this." He opens his arms and I eye him with contempt. "Come here, Riya. I'll just hold you and if you don't like it, I'll let you go."

I cringe, stepping backwards until my back hits the counter.
"I don't want to hug."

"Then at least stop crying."

"I can't. I...he was-" I shake my head, wiping my tears spilling over my cheeks. I've never broken down in front of a boy before. I hate it.

"What did he do to you?" Reid whispers.

"He used me. He hated me all along."

"Fuck this." He growls, and he pulls me into his arms without warning. I start to fight him but he only hugs me harder.

I stop resisting.

He is warm and strong and he is not trying to hurt me. Or is he?

He tightens his arms around me and cradles me to him. I hide my face in his chest and I close my eyes as I try to muffle my sobs.

"What happened?"

"He raped me." I gasp in between sobs. "And it was all my mom's fault."